Oxygen generating apparatus



April 12, 1938. A. HLOCH 2,114,142

OXYGEN GENERATING APPARATUS Filed March 9, 1937 lnvenfor A Zbe rtHive/2,

By His Affomeys Patented Apr. 12, 1938 UNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICEOXYGEN GENERATING APPARATUS Application March 9,

1937, Serial No. 129,822

In Germany November 5, 1931 3 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for generating oxygen by thermaldecomposition of oxygen-liberating compositions, more particularly foruse in connection with rescue apparatus.

In such known oxygen-generating apparatus, the oxygen-generating mixtureof chemical substances, consisting for example predominantly of chlorateand/or perchlorate, is generally employed in the form of a shapedcompressed body disposed in a sheet metal container which is providedwith an ignition device.

The present invention aims at providing an ignition device for suchoxygen-generating apparatus which is simple in construction andoperation, which will not transmit sparks to the outside and which issuiiiciently rigid to withstand the high pressure of the ignition gasesand the thermal stresses set up by the exothermic reaction by which theoxygen is liberated.

The device of the present invention is particularly intended for use inconjunction with oxygen-generating apparatus of the foregoing type, inwhich the shaped body of oxygen-gencrating composition is snuglydisposed in a cartridge casing and held firmly and secure against shockby means of a heat insulating and filtering sheathing enclosing it onall sides, in the manner described in application Ser. No. 78,612, filedMay 8th, 1936, and bearing the title Ap- 30 paratus for generatingoxygen.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the present inventionprovides in oxygen-generating apparatus of the foregoing type, anignition device comprising a rigid lid in which an ignition cap isinserted and which is secured to one end of the sheet metal cartridgecontaining the oxygen-generating composition, and a resilient cover forsaid lid.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, reference ismade to the accompany-- ing drawing which illustrates diagrammaticallyand by way of example two embodiments thereof and in which:-

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through one em- 45 bodiment; and

Fig. 2 a partial longitudinal section of a second embodiment.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the oxygengenerating composition B inthe form of a compressed cylindrical body having a recess accommodatinga primer B1 is inserted in a sheet metal container A with the primer B1upwards, in such a way that it is surrounded on all sides by a sheathingK of heat-insulating and filtering filling material. At the lower endthe filling material rests on a layer J of asbestos fibre, which in turnrests on a wire sieve H. The oxygen gen: erated passes through an outletaperture G provided in the lid C.

The ignition device consists of a lid D1 which carries an ignition cap Fand a domed attachment D3 secured thereto by rivets or the like andresting on the cylindrical body of oxygen-gencrating composition. Byvirtue of this arrangement the flame occurring during ignition isdirected away from the walls of the sheet metal container A and towardsthe sheathing K. The lid D1 and the domed attachment D3 must be as rigidas possible in order to prevent yielding of the ignition cap F. Disposedabove the ignition cap is a striking pin E which is guided by a guide E1and on which lies a thin-walled resilient cover D2, which is preferablyprovided with grooves or the like to give extra resiliency. Said coverD2 serves as an additional seal to prevent the escape of gas when theignition cap F is fired, but it must be sufliciently resilient totransmit a blow thereon to the striking pin E. The lid D1 and cover D2are secured to the sheet metal casing A in a gastight manner, preferablyby welding, e. g. spotwelding,

The apparatus is operated by striking the centre of the cover D2 withthe aid of a striker, hammer or the like, the denting of the cover beingfavored by the grooves provided thereon. The striking pin B then ignitesthe ignition cap F, which latter in turn ignites the primer B1 disposedin the cylindrical body B, which thengencrates oxygen by thermaldecomposition.

In order to avoid unintentional operation of the oxygen-generatingapparatus by accidental striking of the cover D2, the striking pin E maybe removably arranged as shown in Fig. 2, As shown in this figure, thestriking pin E is screwed into a guide E1 in such a manner that it canbe screwed back or removed entirely and screwed down until its pointtouches the ignition cap F only when required to be used. A conicalpacking (not shown) may be provided to seal the cover D2 in gas-tightmanner.

I claim:-

1. An ignition device for oxygen-generating apparatus of the type inwhich chemical substances generating oxygen by thermal decomposition areemployed in the form of a shaped body disposed in a container, saidignition device comprising an ignition cap and striking means adapted tocoact therewith, a rigid lid closing said container and having saidignition cap disposed therein, a dome-shaped member secured to the'inside of said lid and adapted to repose with its rim on said shapedbody disposed in said container, and a resilient cover for said lid heldby the Walls of said container and adapted, on be ing struck, to causeactuation of said striking means.

2. An ignition device for oxygen-generating apparatus of the type inwhich chemical substances generating oxygen by thermal decomposition areemployed in the form of a shaped body disposed in a container, saidignition device comprising an ignition cap and a striking pin adapted tocoact therewith, a rigid lid closing said container and having saidignition cap being disposed therein, a dome-shaped member secured to theinside of said lid and adapted to repose With its rim on said shapedbody disposed in said container, and a resilient cover for said lid heldby the Walls of said container and adapted, on being struck, to

cause actuation of said striking pin, said striking pin being removablydisposed in said resilient cover.

3. An ignition device for oxygen-generating apparatus of the type inwhich chemical substances generating oxygen by thermal decomposition areemployed in the form of a shaped body disposed in a container, saidignition device comprising an ignition cap and a striking pin adapted tocoact therewith, a rigid lid closing said container and having saidignition cap disposed therein, a domeshaped member secured to the insideof said lid and adapted to repose with its rim on said shaped bodydisposed in said container, and a resilient cover for said lid held bythe Walls of said c0ntainer and adapted, on being struck, to causeactuation of said striking pin.

ALBERT HLOCH.

